One in a Million Given the Accident: Assuring Nuclear Weapon Safety
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Since the introduction of nuclear weapons, there has not been a single instance of accidental or unauthorized nuclear detonation, but there have been numerous accidents and “close calls.” As the understanding of these environments has increased, the need for a robust nuclear weapon safety philosophy has grown. This paper describes some of the methods used by the Nuclear Weapon Complex today to assure nuclear weapon safety, including testing, modeling, analysis, and design features. Lastly, it also reviews safety’s continued role in the future and examines how nuclear safety’s present maturity can play a role in strengthening security and other areas and how increased coordination can improve safety and reduce long-term cost.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1426902
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2014-16545J; 534469
- Journal Information:
- Center for Strategic and International Studies, Nuclear Scholars Initiative, Related Information: Paper in ''Nuclear Scholars Initiative: A collection of Papers from the 2014 Nuclear Scholars Initiative"
- Publisher:
- Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC (United States)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Audit Report The Procurement of Safety Class/Safety-Significant Items at the Savannah River Site
History of US nuclear weapon safety assessment: The early years